Clarification made after Wilfried Bony scores late winner for Newport County in friendly

A clarification has been made after Wilfried Bony scores a late winner for Newport County in a friendly against Swindon Town.

The Welsh outfit ran out 2-1 winners in a development squad match against their League Two opponents, with Wilfried Bony netting an 87th-minute winner.

Both County and Swindon named strong sides in the behind-closed-doors game at Newport Stadium, with both sides using it to get minutes into the bodies of first-teamers in a match environment.

Swindon went ahead through Tomi Adeloye before an own goal from Marcel Lavinier levelled the scoreline in the first half.

Wilfried Bony showed quality ever since he came on as a second-half substitute, he headed a Josh Edwards cross over the bar and struck the post with a close-range header.

But then he netted the winner with three minutes left on the clock, scoring a close-range tap-in.

It turned out to be the final chance of the match with Lewys Twamley’s impressive run leading to the Academy graduate having a shot that was only palmed into the path of Bony who couldn’t miss.

87′ GOAL NEWPORT!

Wilfried Bony tucks in from close range after a good run down the left from Twamley.

Twamley’s shot was rebounded to Wilf who couldn’t miss! 2-1!

— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) December 6, 2022

Newport state: “The Ivorian has regularly trained with County to gain match fitness in-between signing for new clubs since the summer of 2019.”

Swindon XI: Jack Copland, Marcel Lavinier, Mathieu Baudry, Angus Macdonald, Reece Devine, Ronan Darcy, Ricky Aguiar, Jonny Williams, Tyrese Shade, Morgan Roberts, Tomi Adeloye

Newport XI: Nick Townsend, Harrison Bright, Matt Dolan, Hayden Lindley, Robbie Willmott, Jack Karadogan, Aaron Wildig, Adam Lewis, Lewis Collins, Chanka Zimba, Thierry Nevers

Subs: Evan Ovendale, Jack Cadwallader, Lewys Twamley, Wilf Bony

Bony, who will be 34 on Saturday, spent the second half of the 2021/22 season with NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch top flight, ending over 500 days of waiting for football having been released by Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad.

The ex-Ivory Coast striker, who scored at the 2014 World Cup against Japan and Greece in the group stages, is currently looking for a club, and reminded suitors of what he is capable of with an 87th-minute winner on Tuesday against Swindon at Spytty Park.

In 2020, he revealed why he won’t sign for the League Two side, saying he had taken part in their training sessions in order to stay in shape.

While admitting that then-manager Michael Flynn did try to get him to play for the club, he said at the time: “My friend Michael Flynn, said, ‘You can have a game here’ but it’s the fact it’s in League Two,” he told The Athletic.

“I’ve been to Qatar, I didn’t play for six months – all of that together, it’s not going to look good [on my CV].

“Not because I’d be playing in League Two, but you can see from the beginning, ‘He got injured, he went to Qatar, he played Africa Cup; we don’t see you too much. You keep dropping…’

“I said [to Flynn] it would be difficult for me to accept that offer. And when I explained it, he said I was right.”

Flynn said: “Wilf’s had a lot of offers since he’s been with us.

“He’s in with us again and he’s smashing to have around.

“If he turned around and said, ‘can we do something to the end of the season?’ Everyone would be delighted.

“But it’s not going to happen because of the amount of money that Wilf is getting offered.

“He’s got to think of his family and do what’s right for Wilfried Bony.

“He’s not on anything at the minute, but why would he tie himself to a club when he’s very close to getting something?”

Back in 2015, he left Swansea City and signed for the Citizens at £25m, rising to £28m. He headed back to the Liberty Stadium after making 46 appearances and scoring 10 goals for City, though was released for free in May, after netting five goals in seven games on loan to Qatari side Al-Arabi.

He then headed for Newport, kept fit and also taught the squad some of what he has learnt.

This is what fans said with a clarification made after Wilfried Bony scores a late winner for Newport County in a friendly…

@TheLocky84: When did Newport sign him 🙈😂

@lfc_caden: Wilfried Bony plays for Newport?

@chrisshingler1: Trained with us for about 2 years now in between a few spells abroad but this is first time he’s officially played for us

@thans88: lads just sign him or he’ll be playing for ammanford before long

@GerWillzLFC: Sorry since when did Bony play for Newport😂

@ChrisEddy_7: Trained with County for years between his spells at other clubs

@bnfwlr1989: Today I learned that Wilfried Bony plays for Newport?!

@StuartSlater19: Oh how the mighty has fallen 😂

@tattooeddaad: Will always be a Swansea legend, great to see him still scoring goals

@SotonExile: Could possibly do a job for us 👀

@ledster95: You what hahahaha

@AbzPodcast: Wait. What? When/how did Wilfried Bony end up at Newport County?

@Utd_Olly15: This is the thing i’d least expect to be reading tonight 😭😭😭

@pod_9_: I am in awe at what I’ve just read

@JackWFC1234: Wilfred Bony is playing for Newport County 😭😭😭😭😭

@paulknight1976: When did Bony go to Newport, I appreciate he’s getting on but would probably still do a job in a higher level

@AaronMRRFC95: Huge football manager vibes.

@JSGC171: Wait, from Manchester City to … Newport County

@SamY4t35: Why is this the first I’m hearing of Bony being at Newport

@DanSFC94: Ex-fucking-cuse me? 😂😂

pic.twitter.com/QEHGpQisVA

— Ryan Burton (@RyanBurton92) December 6, 2022